Beatrice and the Beast, page 1
Beatrice and the Beast
By
Ken Coleman and Verity Goodyear
Copyright 2019 Ken Coleman
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever including Internet usage, without written permission of the author.
This book is a work of fiction and any similarity of the character herein to persons living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Chapters
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
Twenty-three
Twenty-four
Twenty-five
Twenty-six
Twenty-seven
Twenty-eight
Twenty-nine
Thirty
Thirty-one
Thirty-two
Thirty-three
Thirty-four
Thirty-five
Thirty-six
Thirty-seven
Thirty-eight
Thirty-nine
Forty
Forty-one
Forty-two
Forty-three
Forty-four
Forty-five
Forty-six
Forty-seven
Forty-eight
Forty-nine
Beatrice Mellowday stepped down from the rail car onto the rough boards of the station and looked around nervously, at the hustle and bustle of the Wichita railhead. The many sounds coming from all around frightened and dismayed her as bellowing cattle, waiting to be herded onto railcars were herded from holding pens by shouting and cursing cowhands. Freight wagons piled high with buffalo pelts and driven by swearing, yelling muleskinners, headed for the many flatbed rail cars situated near the far end of the train adding to the noise and smells that were extremely overpowering and assaulted her delicate senses.
Beatrice cut a forlorn figure as she turned around and around looking for, she knew not what. She had been assured someone would be there to meet her, but none of the many men and few women who were scurrying around attending to their own business, appeared to be remotely interested in the petite young woman whose frightened eyes scanned the area around her. She was clearly at a loss and bewildered as she waited and clutched a valise containing all her worldly goods. Her only other possession, a reticule dangling from her wrist, contained the few personal trinkets and small amount of cash she possessed.
She considered getting back onto the train and returning to Chicago, but the rail ticket she had been sent had been for a one-way journey only and the small amount of money she possessed, would not be enough to pay for the return. However, she’d always considered herself to be level headed in bad situations and determined not to panic, even though a feeling of utter despair threatened to overwhelm her. She wondered if the man she had become betrothed to had changed his mind and abandoned her in a town she had no knowledge of and was unlike any place she had ever seen, or even heard of.
She had never been this far west in her entire life and until this moment, never truly believed the stories she had heard about the western states that were supposedly, overrun with savages and outlaws who murdered and robbed weaker people than they were and got away with their crimes because the law was so hard pressed, they were helpless to intervene. However, she hadn’t failed to notice, most of the men she saw including the ones herding the cows, resembled the type of ruffian she may well have envisaged such men to be. She had already noted that most of the men around the vicinity were armed and looked more than capable of using their weapons and that, frightened her as much as the increasing feelings of despair and foreboding that had started in the pit of her stomach and were now causing her heart to beat faster and harder in her chest.
After twenty minutes of standing alone, it became clear, nobody would be coming to meet her and she would need to consider her next course of action. She placed the valise on the boards and rummaged through her reticule. Presently, she removed a meagre amount of money from the small bag and counted it. Apart from a few coins, she found that all the money she had in the world, amounted to just six dollars. She sighed, disappointed it wasn’t more, but it would have to do. It would hopefully get her a room at a hotel for a few days and pay for food while she looked for some kind of work, even though she had no idea what she would do. She had never worked in her entire life and had no discernible skills apart from being very well educated. Perhaps she could get a job as a school-ma’am. That was something she felt she was capable of, provided there was a school in this awful town.
At that moment a man approached her. He was dressed very much like most of the other men she had seen around, except he wasn’t visibly armed and he wore a blue cap with a Santa Fe railroad logo emblazoned on the front. He touched a forefinger to the peak of his cap and spoke to her in a gruff but gentle voice.
‘Howdy ma’am. Is there anything I can help you with?’
She regarded his concerned and kindly, weather beaten face and decided maybe there were some decent people in this town after all.
‘I’m fine thank you,’ she replied unwilling to allow her vulnerability to show. ‘Someone is coming to meet me but must have been delayed. I’m sure they will be here presently.’
He was taken aback by the clear and almost little girl sound of her beautiful voice, even though she would probably be around nineteen or twenty. However, he composed himself and responded with a bright smile.
‘Well if you’re sure ma’am.’
She forced a smile but was unable to completely hide the dismay on her face.
‘Yes, I’m sure and thank you for your concern.’
He touched the peak of his cap again.
‘Then I bid you good day and good luck.’
As he turned to leave, she impulsively, touched his arm.
‘One moment sir,’ she said hurriedly.
He turned back to face her.
‘Yes ma’am?’
‘Could you direct me to a hotel?’
He gazed at her and his concern for her wellbeing became apparent as he responded to her question.
‘There’s a lot of hotels in Wichita miss, but none would be suitable for a fine young lady like yourself, especially as you’re alone. Most of ‘em are full anyhow and the ones that ain’t are only fit for low life criminals and the kind of ne’er-do-well you should steer clear of.’
‘I think my contact may have been delayed considerably and I have no option but to stay overnight.’
‘Then I suggest you make your way to Ella Chamber’s boarding house. She won’t stand any nonsense from rowdies and only takes in god fearing gentlemen and women. I know for sure she has a small room available or did so a couple of hours ago and we ain’t expecting no more cattle drives any time soon.’
‘I am most appreciative of your concern sir and I will certainly take the room on your recommendation providing it is still available of course.’
‘If you will give me ten minutes to get the train on its way, I will escort you there. It will be easier to show you the way than to try and give you directions, especially as you may find Wichita to be a little more boisterous than what you may be used to.’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t want to take you from your work.’
‘Once the train leaves, I won’t be needed for a while and I will be going your way for my lunch.’
She smiled brightly.
‘You are very gallant Mister…?’
‘The name’s Sam Chambers ma’am. I’m the husband of Ella, the woman who runs the boarding house.’
His revelation didn’t completely, take her by surprise. It made a certain amount of sense after the way he had sung his wife’s praises.
‘Well thank you Mister Chambers, my name is Beatrice Mellowday and I will gladly accept your offer to escort me to the boarding house.’
‘Then maybe it would be easier for you if you take the weight off your feet in my cabin while I dispatch the train. The cabin’s small, but very clean and there’s hot coffee on the stove as well as a comfortable chair and some old newspapers you can read if you’ve a mind.’
Twenty minutes later with Chambers carrying her valise, the pair headed along the rutted and dusty, main street while keeping to the uneven board walk. Beatrice’s wide and frightened eyes took in the sights and sounds of that busy and bustling thoroughfare as she stayed as close as she dared to the elderly gentleman by her side. He was speaking but she didn’t hear his words, so strong was her concentration on what was happening all around her.
The smells were the worst. Horse and cow urine and droppings, stale sweat and the smell of sour whiskey coming from the saloons. A dead cat covered in maggots, rotting just beneath the boardwalk and even the unpleasant stink of human excreta and urine, floating on the air from the many privies and bushes situated behind the buildings, or chamber pots that had been emptied into the street. There were so many odours mingled together, she almost gagged and constantly pressed her handkerchief to her nose in an effort to shield her delicate senses from the worst of the stench.
Though i
Gradually, Beatrice became accustomed to everything that was happening all around her and became aware that her companion was speaking.
‘I’m sorry Mister Chambers,’ she said apologetically. ‘I was so involved with everything happening in the vicinity, I wasn’t really listening.’
‘That’s alright ma’am, I was just rambling on anyhow.’
‘Do go on Mister Chambers, was there something you wanted to ask me?’
‘Well since you ask Miss Mellowday; I did wonder why such a fine young lady would be travelling all this way alone.’
She debated for a few moments, upon how much she should reveal. Then decided there was no shame in what she was doing. She was a woman alone and destitute. Therefore, she felt justified in using any means at her disposal to survive in a land where women generally, relied on men to keep them safe and secure.
‘Did you hear about the great fire of Chicago last October Mister Chambers?’
‘Yes ma’am, I read about it and heard first hand stories from men coming in on the trains. A bad business from what I heard.’
‘That is quite the understatement Mister Chambers. The fire burned down most of Chicago. My own father perished in the fire when it consumed and destroyed his lumber mill leaving me alone and penniless after I was required to sell the house to pay our debtors.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that ma’am, I truly am. But that don’t explain why you’re alone in one of the wildest frontier towns in the west.’
Before she could answer, two horsemen rode their mounts at a gallop along the street and as they passed Beatrice and her companion, they began firing their pistols into the air. The terrified young woman screamed and threw herself at Chambers, flinging her arms around his neck and sending him staggering backwards. He quickly composed himself and steadied her with an arm around her slender waist. She shook violently as she sobbed against his chest certain she was about to die.
‘It’s alright ma’am,’ Chambers said soothingly. ‘It’s just a couple of cowhands letting off steam.’
She turned her dewy, tear-soaked eyes up to him and stifled another sob.
‘Oh, Mister Chambers,’ she cried. ‘I thought they would surely murder us.’
He smiled inwardly at her naiveté, but his expression remained serious as he indicated a split log seat beside a nearby doorway.
‘Would you like to sit for a spell?’
She moved away from him and composed herself even though her legs felt weak and shaky.
‘I believe I can carry on now sir but thank you for your concern and my apologies for throwing myself so wantonly into your arms.’
‘Well it ain’t far now ma’am and it’s in a quiet street that’s free of saloons and such.’
They carried on walking just as a horseman approached going the opposite way with a fully laden mule in tow. He was a big man wearing a grey shirt under a black, leather vest and a black hat which was pulled down low placing his eyes and most of his face in shadow. As he came nearer to the man and woman, she glanced his way and noticed he was armed with a pistol in a holster slung low on his thigh and a rifle in a scabbard attached to the saddle. Though she was unable to clearly, see his eyes, she sensed he was staring intently at her and though he unnerved her intensely and to her mind, appeared very menacing, she found she was unable to tear her eyes away from his shadowy face. He did not once avert his eyes until he had passed them by and she stared back the whole time unable to tear her eyes away as though mesmerised by him. She even stopped and stared at his back after he had passed.
‘Why was that man staring at me Mister Chambers?’
She glanced at his face and saw the concern and worry etched there.
‘I don’t rightly know ma’am, but he ain’t the kind of man decent folks have anything to do with. As bad men go, he is one of the worst there is and if ever you find him approaching you, you would do well to cross the street and hide.’
Her mouth opened in disbelief. Chambers description seemed more befitting of the devil himself than a mere man.
‘Who is he?’ She gasped.
‘You don’t need to know ma’am. Looks like he’s planning to leave town anyhow judging by that fully laden mule, so with any luck, you’ll never see him again.’
She turned to stare once more, after the retreating back of the man.
‘You clearly know him Mister Chambers. Who is he and why is he so menacing?’
Instead of answering, he steered her around a corner into a quieter street which appeared to house mainly, business premises. A brick-built bank, two stores and a newspaper office amongst others. The boarding house was situated between a post office and gunsmiths.
‘Here we are.’
Chambers guided the young woman up three steps and onto the stoop before opening the door and allowing her to enter. She was surprised to find the door opened into a restaurant which at this particular time was quite busy with both men and women seated at most of the dozen or so tables scattered around the room.
Chambers led her between the tables to a door on the far side of the room where they entered a kitchen occupied by two women, one elderly and the other around the same age, or possibly, a little older than Beatrice. They both looked up from preparing meals to see the young woman and older man enter the kitchen.
‘Ella,’ began Chambers. ‘This young lady would like a room if it’s still available.’
The older woman smiled brightly.
‘Yes,’ she announced. ‘It’s still available, but I’m very busy right now.’
‘Oh, please don’t let me keep you from your work madam,’ said Beatrice. ‘I can wait.’
‘Have you eaten child?’ asked the woman. ‘If you’ve a mind you can take lunch here and when the busy period is over, I will show you the room.’
Beatrice hesitated for a moment, aware that the small amount of money she possessed may have to be spent sparingly if she couldn’t immediately, find a job. However, before she was able to give an answer, Sam spoke on her behalf.
‘Of course, she’ll eat, Ella. She must be starving after her journey.’ He turned to Beatrice. ‘If you’ve a mind Miss Mellowday, I would be honoured if you’d join me for lunch.’
The request took Beatrice’s options out of her hands, the only one left to her was to comply.
‘Oh, yes of course I will join you for lunch Mister Chambers if that is acceptable to your wife.’
Ella Chambers laughed and the young woman with her smiled.
‘My goodness, such a polite and obviously, well-bred young lady. Your usual table is free Sam. Take the young lady and get seated, Jenny will be out shortly to take your order.’
The young woman who Beatrice assumed was Jenny, smiled sweetly before she picked up two food laden plates she had prepared and headed for the door to the restaurant while Beatrice spoke politely to Sam’s wife.
‘I am extremely grateful that you are so friendly and kind madam. My name is Beatrice Mellowday and at the present time, I find myself alone and friendless in a town that is completely alien to what I am used to.’
